| Sumario: | AbstractObjectiveMethodsResultsConclusionThe aim of this study was to determine the longitudinal associations (A) between emotional eating and unhealthy snack consumption <italic>via</italic> habit strength, and (B) between emotional eating and habit strength through unhealthy snacking in Chilean adults.Data from three waves (T1, T2, and T3) of a longitudinal research project were analyzed. A convenience sample of 355 Chilean adults was selected. Variables were measured through self-report scales. Hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling.Emotional eating at T1 was positively related to habit strength at T2 (<italic>β</italic> = .290, <italic>p</italic> < .001) and unhealthy snack consumption at T2 (<italic>β</italic> = .198, <italic>p</italic> = .008). In addition, unhealthy snacking at T2 was positively related to habit strength at T3 (<italic>β</italic> = .204, <italic>p</italic> < .001). Unhealthy snacking at T2 mediated the positive longitudinal relationship between emotional eating at T1 and habit strength at T3 (<italic>β</italic> = .041, <italic>p</italic> = .033, CI 95% = [.003, .078]).The findings suggest that the increased frequency of unhealthy snacking associated with emotional eating could lead to habit formation among Chilean adults. Emotional eating management may be important in interventions to disrupt unhealthy snacking habit.
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